Single evaporator two-compartment refrigerator



Aug. 28, 1962 1.. J. MANN ETAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 i w w Wa INVENTORSLEONARD J. MANN JOHN J. ocomusu 1' man ATTORNEY Aug. 28, 1962 L. J. MANNETAL 3,050,961

SINGLE EVAPORATOR TWO-COMPARTMENT REFRIGERATOR Original Filed July 8,1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR5 LEONARD J. MANN JOHN J. O'CONNELL BYZ5555 THEIR ATTORNEY Aug. 28, 1962 J. MANN ETAL SINGLE EVAFORATORTWO-COMPARTMENT REFRIGERATOR Original Filed July 8, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet3 l1lllllllllllll|llllllll|lllll llll'lulllllllll lllllullllllfillllll N\R Q INVENTORS LEONARD J. MANN JOHN J.- c u. L

THEIR ATTORNEY Aug. 28, 1962 J. MANN ETAL. 3,050,961

SINGLE EVAPORATOR TWQ-COMPARTMENT REFRIGERATOR Original Filed July 8,1960 e Sheets- Sheet 4 THEIR ATTORNEY s 5 a I I N j 1 I I 3:

g Q k :5:

y INVENTORfi -5 LEONARD J. MANN 1 k JOHN J. o'cnmm I Q BY wp Aug. 28,1962 J. MANN ETAL 3,050,961

SINGLE EVAPORATOR TWO-COMPARTMENT REFRIGERATOR Original Filed July 8,1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 @Y Ma 5 ww INVEN-TOR5 LEONARD J. MANN JOHN J.O'CONNELL BY 7 THEIR ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,050,961Patented Aug. 28, 1952 3,tl50,96l SINGLE EVAPGRA'IGR TWO-QGMPARTMENTREFRIGERATGR This application is a continuation of our copendingapplication Serial No. 41,614, filed July 8, 1960, now abandoned.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularlyto household refrigerators with above and below freezing compartments inwhich frost will not collect.

Refrigerators that are free of frost are popular. Because of the highsale price, they are limited to those having larger incomes. This ispartially caused by the fact that these frost-free refrigerators havebeen built with separate evaporators for each compartment. Attempts havebeen made to cool both compartments with a single evaporator. However,the rapid accumulation of frost from the air received from the abovefreezing compartment caused the evaporator air spaces to become rapidlyclogged with frost so as to prevent the proper circulation of airbetween the compartments and the evaporator. This required very frequentdefrosting. Furthermore, because of the relatively large accumulation offrost where the circulating air first contacted the evaporator, it wasdifficult to defrost the evaporator rapidly enough to prevent the belowfreezing compartment temperature from rising an undesirable amount.

It is an object of this invention to provide an arrangement in which asingle evaporator cools the below and above freezing compartments bycirculating the air in such a way that the air from the below and theabove freezing compartments each initially contact the evaporator atdifferent places to distribute the frost formation and to preventobstruction to the air flow and to make possible rapid and completedefrosting.

It is another object of this invention to provide a refrigeratorarrangement in which a single evaporator cools the below and abovefreezing compartments in which the air is circulated in such a way thatthe air from the above freezing compartment is passed along one side ofthe evaporator to remove the greater portion of the moisture from itbefore it joins the below freezing compartment circulating air in heattransfer with the remainder of the evaporator to prevent the obstructionof the air flow and to make possible rapid and complete defrosting.

These and other objects are illustrated in the two forms shown in thedrawings in which the upper below freezing compartment is provided witha false bottom wall extending over the evaporator compartment whichcontains a folded plate type evaporator provided with louvers betweenthe refrigerant passages so as to allow air flow through it. Thisevaporator compartment is divided by dividing members into a centralpassage and two side passages extending from the front to the rear. Theabove freezing compartment is provided with a false top wall having fiveapertures adjacent its front end through which air flows from thecompartment into a duct immediately above the false top wall so that theair is conveyed to the two rear corners. At the rear corners, the airpasses upwardly through the insulation and the drain pan to the sidepassages of the evaporator compartment. The air flows forwardly in theseside passages in contact with the plate evaporator until it reaches thefront end of the dividing members.

Air from the below freezing compartment passes around the front edge ofits false bottom wall into the evaporator compartment. The air from theside passages as well as the air drawn from the front of the belowfreezing compartment is drawn through the center passage between theevaporator plates to the inlet of the fan at the rear. The moist airfrom the above freezing compartment first contacts the side edges of theevaporator and deposits the most of its moisture thereon in the form offrost. The air from the below freezing compartment contains much less.moisture and joins the dehumidified air from the above freezingcompartment at the front where, in the rearward flow of air, much of theremainder of the moisture from the air in both compartments is depositedin the form of frost in the center passage. The blower at the rear hasan upwardly extending outlet which discharges into the upper portion ofthe below freezing compartment and a downwardly extending outlet whichdischarges through a thermostatically controlled valve into the abovefreezing compartment. The operation of the system is normally controlledby a thermostat in the inlet to the below freezing compartment duct ofthe fan and controls the cycling of the refrigerating system as well asthe operation of the fan. Periodically, refrigeration is discontinuedand the fan is stopped while an electric heater in contact with theevaporator heats the evaporator rapidly to defrost it and to remove thefrost therefrom before the compartments are permitted to warm up anysubstantial amount. T hereafter, refrigeration and the operation of thefan are resumed.

In a second form, the air from the above freezing compartment is passeddirectly into contact with the bottom of the evaporator while the airfrom the below freezing compartment initially contacts the evaporator atthe front. This also distributes the frost during the refrigeratingcycle so that clogging is reduced and defrosting the evaporator is mademore rapid, uniform and complete.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention areclearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical front sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 11 of FIGURE 2 of a two-compartment household refrigeratorembodying one form of my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side vertical section taken substantiallyalong the line 2--2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along theline 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 4--4 of FIGURE 3 showing the louvers in section;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side vertical sectional view takensubstantially along the line 5-5 of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the plate type evaporator shown in FIGURES 1to 5;

FIGURE 7 is a wiring diagram for the refrigerator shown in FIGURES 1 to6;

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic view of the refrigerating system shown inFIGURES 1 to 6;

FIGURE 9 is a front vertical sectional view of a modified form of theinvention taken substantially along the line 99 of FIGURE 10; and

FIGURE 10 is a side vertical sectional view of the form shown in FIGURE9 taken along the line 1010 thereof.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURES 1 to 4, there is shown arefrigerator cabinet 20 having insulated top, side and rear walls 22,2.4 and Z6 enclosing an upper below freezing compartment 28 and a lowerabove freezing compartment 3t) separated by a horizontal dividing o)wall 32. The front of these compartments 28 and 30 are closed byseparate doors 34 and 35 suitably insulated. These doors seal againstthe metal covered insulating mullion 37 at the front of the horizontaldividing wall 32.

The above freezing compartment 38 is provided with a false top wall 34which is spaced beneath an insulating member 36 extending rearwardlyfrom the mullion 37 within the horizontal dividing wall 32. Thisinsulating member 36 of foamed plastic resin has a projecting portion 38at the front which rests upon the false 'top wall 34 and a frontpointing triangular-shaped projection 48 at the rear which likewiserests upon the false wall 34. Between these projections 38 and 48 is arecessed portion 42 forming two passages which become wider as theyextend forwardly from the rear corners until they join at the center.The false top wall 34 is provided with a series of five elongatedapertures 44 extending across the front providing inlet openings bywhich air from the above freezing compartment 30 flows into the passage42.- The false top wall 34 slopes downwardly to the'rear centerproviding a drain passage 46 in the central portion for the draining ofany moisture which may condense on its upper face. Two passage portions42 extend to and converge to the rear corners substantially adjacent therear wall 26 and thence turn upwardly through the insulating member 36and connect directly with the two rear corner openings 48 provided in adrain pan 50 resting upon the insulating member 36.

The evaporator assembly 52 rests upon the drain pan. This evaporatorassembly includes a folded plate type evaporator 54 which is shown indevelopment in FIG- URE 6. It includes a narrow entrance passage 56extending from the center along the rear edge to the right end whichconnects to serpentine passages 58 formed in the plate terminating inthree parallel passages 60 providing a connection with the oppositeside. These three parallel passages 60 connect with the serpentinepassages 62 which in turn discharge into an accumulator passage 64. Anarrow slot 66 is cut out between the accumulator passage 64 and theserpentine passages 62 so that the accumulator passage may be bentupwardly at a slight angle so as to serve as a liquid trap and gasdisengagement chamber. Between the serpentine passages are providedopenings and louvers 68 extending in the direction of air flow forproviding the free passage of air and good heat transfer between the airand the plate evaporator 54. These openings and louvers 68 are closelyspaced and extend substantially between the refrigerant passages so asto provide good air flow and good heat transfer between the air and thelouvers providing maximum turbulence, maximum air flow and maximum heattransfer between the air and the refrigerant in the passages 58 and 62.Retaining tabs or clips 70 are also provided throughout the evaporator54 for holding thereon the serpentine sheathed tubular electric heater72 extending in serpentine fashion transverse to the serpentinerefrigerant passages 58 and 62 throughout the evaporator including aportion extending around the accumulator 64.

The plate evaporator 54 is bent crosswise substantially along the line74 with a rounded bend as is shown in FIGURE 1 to provide two spacedevaporator portions, namely, an upper portion 76 and a lower portion 78.Between the upper and lower portions 76 and 78 are provided two verticaldividers 88 extending from a point about one-fourth the distance back ofthe front edge of the plate evaporator to the rear. These dividers 80are spaced inwardly from the sides of the plate about onesixth of thefolded width of the plate as viewed in FIG- URE 1. These dividers 80 areheld in spaced relation by an intervening central perforated plate 82located between the upper and lower portions 76 and 78 and supported byspacers 84. The dividers 80 between the evaporator sections 76 and 78are supplemented by the dividers or partitions 86 at the bottom andrear. These dividers 80 and 86 confine the air flowing out of theopenings 48 to the passages 88 on the outer sides of the dividers alongthe side edges of the evaporator 54. These passages 88 are locatedbetween the dividers and 86 and the upturned sides of the drain pan 50.

The flow of air from the above freezing compartment 34 through the sidepassages 88 is relatively slow. The air from the openings 48 thereforehas ample contact with the adjacent surfaces of the evaporator 54 sothat it is cooled and its moisture largely removed and deposited in theform of frost on the adjacent edge portions of the evaporator 54.Therefore, when the air reaches the front of the evaporator compartment,it is cooled and dried. At the front of the evaporator compartment, thisair which has flowed through the side passages 88 meets the air whichflows from the below freezing compartment around the front edge of thefalse bottom plate 90 which rests upon the heater section 72 directlybeneath it. This air flows between the front edge of the false bottomwall 90 and the front edge of the drain pan 50. All this air thencomingles as it flows through the central passage 92 located between thedividers 80 and rearwardly between the dividers 86 to the central rearopening 94 provided in the false bottom wall 98 as shown in FIGURE 2.

The flanged opening 94 connects directly with the trapezoidal-shapedtruncated duct 96 formed of a plastic member which surrounds the scroll98 of the fan wheel 121 driven by the electric motor 123 lodged withinthe recess 125 formed in the rear wall 26. The scroll 98 includes aninlet 127 providing communication with the duct 96 and interior of thefan wheel or blower 121. The scroll 98 includes an upwardly extendingdischarge outlet 129 and a downwardly extending discharge outlet 131.The upper discharge outlet 129 is provided with a semicirculardeflecting collar 133 having a central opening 135 discharging thecentral portion of the air against the bottom. surface of the top wall22 of the below freezing compartment 28. The interior passage 137directs the air downwardly onto the sides and central portion of thefalse bottom wall 98. This insures even distribution of the cold airthroughout the below freezing compartment 28.

The evaporator 54 is maintained at a temperature of about -15 C. underthe control of a thermostat or thermostat bulb 139 located in the fanoutlet opening 129 so that it is responsive to the temperature of theair after it has been cooled and dried by passage through the sidepassages 88 and the central passage 92 in contact with the surfaces ofthe evaporator 54 and the perforated bafile plate 82. This thermostat139 is preferably set to start operation of the refrigerating system at+2 F. and a stop operation at 10 F. air temperature. The fan motor 123and the compressor motor are connected in parallel andoperatesimultaneously.

The downwardly extending outlet 131 connects directly with a dischargeconnection 141 at the rear of the evaporator compartment 143 and passesthrough an opening 145 in the insulation member 36 connecting with anelbow 147 which is connected to the inner sheet metal member 149 on thefront face of the rear wall 26 in the above freezing compartment 30.This elbow is provided with a threaded connection with a valve seat 151provided on the opposite side of the face 149 of the rear wall. Thisvalve seat member cooperates with a valve element 153 connected by avalve stem to a metal bellows 155 supported within a plastic housing 157having a closed rear wall and perforated side and front walls. Thisthermostatic bellows 155 therefore measures the temperature of the'airin the upper portion of the above freezing compartment 30 and controlsthe flow of cold air from the elbow 147 into the compartment 30 so as tomaintain the compartment 38 between 34 and 38 F. The bellows 155 iscalibrated and is charged with a suitable volatile liquid so that thevalve member 153 will close against the seat member 151 at 34 F. andwill move to the fully open position at 38 F. In between thesetemperatures, it will assume intermediate positions to maintain theabove freezing compartment 30 at desired refrigerating temperatures,such as 35 F., for example. The housing 157 for the bellows 155 isfastened to the false top wall 34. A deflector 158 is located above thevalve seat 151 to deflect the air for flow beneath the false top wall34. As shown in FIGURE 7, the motorcompressor unit 159 pumps evaporatedrefrigerant from the accumulator as of the evaporator plate 54- andforces this compressed refrigerant into the condenser 161 which isconnected by the capillary restrictor tube 163 with the restricted inletpassage as of the plate evaporator 54.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 7, there is shown the wiringdiagram provided with a supply conductor 165 connecting through astarting relay 167 with the compresosr motor 169 of a motor-compressorunit. The starting relay 167 controls the flow of current through thephase winding 171 of the motor 169. Also connected to the supplyconductor T65 is the motor 123 of the fan 121 which is connected inparallel with the motor 169 and in series with the thermostat 139. Thethermostat 139 is connected to the contact 173 of a double throw switch375 controlled by a defrost timer 177. Periodically, such as once a day,the double throw switch 175 is moved to its upper position into contactwith the stationary contact 179. The switch 175 as well as the defrosttimer 177 are connected to the second supply conductor 131.

When the defrost timer 177 operates to move the switch 175 away from thecontact 173 into contact with the contact 179, a defrost cycle isinitiated. This deenergizes the motors 169 and 123 to stop refrigerationand air circulation. It energizes the heater 72 through a normallyclosed defrost limiter thermostat 183 located on the right rear portionof the drain pan as shown in FIGURES 3 and 5. The heater 72 rapidlyheats the evaporator 54 and the evaporator compartment 143 so that thefrost is melted and collected by the drain pan for disposal through afrost Water discharge duct 185 shown in FIGURE 3. The heating continuesa sufficient length of time to melt the frost. The heating is terminatedwhen the defrost limiter thermostat 183 reaches a sufficiently hightemperature, such as 40 or 415 which indicates the condition insuringcompletion of the defrosting. When this temperature is reached, thelimiter thermostat 183 is opened. This, then effectively energizes theelectromagnet 187 in a shunt circuit around the limiter thermostat 183.This electromagnet 187 then operates the double throw switch T175 backto its normal position in contact with the contact 173 so thatrefrigeration can be resumed since the switch 139 will be closed by thewarmer conditions prevailing during the defrost operation. In the eventthat the defrost limiter switch 183 fails to operate, the switch 175will be returned to its normal position by the defrost timer l7 7 Thus,in this form, air is drawn through passages between the insulationmember 36 and the false top wall 34 of the above freezing compartmentkeeping this false wall 34 at substantially the highest temperature inthe above freezing compartment so that no moisture will collect on it.This air first contacts the edges of the evaporator so that asubstantial portion of its moisture is deposited in the form of frost asit is cooled by these surfaces before this air merges with the colder,drier air coming from the below freezing compartment 28. The merged airis cool and dry and is further cooled and further dried in its rearwardmovement through the central passage 9?. for distribution to the twocompartments by the fan and ductwork. This keeps the below freezingcompartment 23 at a temperature between about and F. and sufficientlydry to prevent substantially the formation of any frost therein. Theabove freezing compartment 30 is kept at a temperature of about 35 bythe thermostatically controlled valve 153 which controls the rate of airflow into and through the above freezing compartment 30. The plate typeof evaporator provides sufiicient turbulence of the air to obtain goodheat transfer between the air and its surfaces. Considerable amount offrost can collect on its surfaces without materially affecting the flowof air. The accumulation of frost on its surfaces is substantiallyuniform and this prevents obstructions to air flow and makes thedefrosting rapid and uniform. This refrigerator is efficient and yetrelatively inexpensive to manufacture and also prevents any formation offrost in the below freezing compartment 28. The defrosting systemautomatically removes frost without any attention of the owner.

In the form shown in FIGURES 9 and 10, similar parts to those found inFlGURES 1 to 8 are given the same reference characters and thedescription thereof will not be repeated. This form shown in FIGURES 9and 10 differs primarily in that the partitions or dividers and fit: areomitted and a different air circulating system within the evaporatorcompartment 243 is provided. The false top wall 234 of the abovefreezing compartment is provided with a series of four rows ofdistributed inlets which extend from side to side across the false topwall They communicate with a recess 242 provided in the insulationmember 236 above the false top wall 234*. The insulation member 236 isprovided with four rows of vertically extending passages 245 directlyover the openings 244 in the false bottom wall 234 and extendingupwardly from the recess 242 to a recess adjacent the apertures Z45.Directly above these holes or passages 245 are located the largeapertures 248 in the drain pan 259;. The drain pan 25%) is generallysimilar to the drain pan 5% with the exception of the difference inlocation of holes. Within the evaporator compartment 2 13 is the foldedplate type evaporator 254 which is similar to the evaporator shown indevelopment in FIG- URE 6. However, the plate 82 is omitted but theevaporator is provided with serpentine sheathed tubular electric heaters272 above and below in a manner similar to the first embodiment. Thelower section of heaters rest directly on the drain pan 250 while thefalse bottom wall 50 rests directly on the upper series of the sheathedelectric heater 272.

In this form, operation of the blower or fan 121 causes air to be drawnfrom the below freezing compartment 28 around the front end of the falsebottom wall into the evaporator space 243 where it contacts the frontedge of the evaporator 254 initially. Air is also drawn from the abovefreezin compartment 3t through the holes 244 in the false top wall 234,through the passages 245 in the insulation member 236 and through theapertures in the drain pan 25d to initially contact the bottom surfaceof the lower section of the plate evaporator 254 at a point directlyabove the opening 248. The initial contact therefore is considerablydifferent and spaced rearwardly from the initial contact of the air fromthe below freezing compartment 23. Since the plate evaporator 254- islouvered as shown in FIGURES 3 and 6, the air flows freely in contactwith the evaporator 254 and is drawn rearwardly, transferring heat andmoisture to the plate evaporator 254 in its passage to the opening 1% inthe false bottom wall 9t). The cold air flows upwardly into the fan orblower 121 in a manner similar to the first embodiment. The controls ofair flow and temperature are similar.

In this form, the warmer moist air from the above freezing compartment36 first contacts the bottom of the evaporator 254 at a point behind thefront edge of the evaporator and generally in the front half of theevaporator 254. This air moves rearwardly and distributes its moistureto the rear part of the evaporator 254 so as to provide a relativelyuniform distribution of frost upon the surfaces of the evaporator. Thecolder, drier air from the below freezing compartment 28 first contactsthe front edge of the upper section of the evaporator 254 and then thelower front edge and distributes its moisture 'in the form of frost to agreater extent upon the upper section of the evaporator 254. This typeof air movement also serves to distribute the frost more uniformly onthe surfaces of the evaporator 254 so that clogging of the air passagesby frost is diminished and defrosting can take place rapidly anduniformly. A similar system of control shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 may beused for this form of the invention. Thus, in both forms of theinvention, the air from the two difierent compartments contact initiallythe evaporator in different areas so that the frost is relativelyuniformly distributed and the clogging of the air passages is minimized.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosedconstitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A refrigerator including insulating means enclosing a below freezingcompartment and an above freezing compartment, means forming anevaporator compartment separated from said compartments containing anevaporator portion, means for circulating air from said below and abovefreezing compartments through said evaporator compartment in heattransfer with said evaporator portion and in commingling relationshipand returning the cooled air to said above and below freezingcompartments, said circulating means including means for proportioningthe circulation of the air to maintain said below and above freezingcompartments at temperatures below and above freezing respectively, andcooling means for precooling said air circulating from said abovefreezing compartment prior to its commingling with said below freezingcompartment air.

2. A refrigerator including insulating means enclosing at below freezingcompartment and an above freezing compartment, means forming anevaporator compartment separated from said compartments containing anevaporator portion, means for circulating air from said below and abovefreezing compartments through said evaporator compartment in heattransfer contact with said evaporator portion and in comminglingrelationship and returning the cooled air to said above and belowfreezing compartments, said circulating means including means forproportioning the circulation of the air to maintain said below andabove freezing compartments at temperatures below and abovefreezingrespectively, and means for removing moisture from said air circulatingfrom said above freezing compartment while separated from said belowfreezing compartment air prior to its contact with said evaporatorportion.

3. A refrigerator including insulating means enclosing a below freezingcompartment and an above freezing compartment, means forming anevaporator compartment separated from said compartments containing anevaporator portion and having an outlet, fan means having an inletconnected to said outlet and having discharge outlet means discharginginto said below and above freezing compartments, separate inlet passagemeans extending from said below and above freezing compartments to saidevaporator portion for conducting air from the below and above freezingcompartments to said evaporator portion, said fan means drawing air fromsaid compartments through said passage means and evaporator compartmentin heat transfer with said evaporator portion, and means for removingmoisture from said air passing through said separate inlet passage meansfrom said above freezing compartment prior to joining said belowfreezing compartment air. 7

4. A refrigerator including insulating means enclosing a below freezingcompartment and an above freezing compartment, means forming anevaporator compartment separated from said compartments containing anevaporator portion and having an outlet, fan means having an inletconnected to said outlet and having discharge outlet means discharginginto said below and above freezing compartments, separate inlet passagemeans extending from said below and above freezing compartments to saidevaporator portion for conducting air from the below and above freezingcompartments to said evaporator portion, said fan means drawing air fromsaid compartments through said passage means and evaporator compartmentin heat transfer with said evaporator portion, and cooling meansmaintained at temperatures substantially as low as the temperature ofthe air from said below freezing compartment extending into heattransfer with said air passing through said separate inlet passage meansfrom said above freezing compartment for precooiing the air from saidabove freezing compartment prior to joining said below freezingcompartment air.

5. A refrigerator including insulating means enclosing a below freezingcompartment and an above freezing compartment, means forming anevaporator compartment separated from said compartments containing anevaporator portion and having an outlet, fan means having an inletconnected to said outlet and having discharge outlet means discharginginto said below and above freezing compartments, separate inlet passagemeans extenning from said below and above freezing compartments to saidevaporator portion for conducting air from the below and above freezingcompartments to said evaporator portion, said fan means drawing air fromsaid compartments through said passage means and evaporator compartmentin heat transfer with said evaporator portion, and cooling meansnormally maintained at temperatures substanti "ly as low as thetemperature of said l evaporator portion extending into heat transferwith and cooling and removing moisture from said air passing throughsaid inlet passage means from said above freezing compartment by thedeposit of frost prior to joining said below freezing compartment air,and means for defrosting said cooling means.

6. A refrigerator including insulating means enclosing 9. below freezincompartment and an above freezing compartment and door means for accessto said compartments, means associated with said insulating meansforming evaporator compartment means separated from said below and abovefreezing compartments, means for circulating air from said below andabove freezing compartments through said evaporator compartment meansand returning the air to said above and below freezing compartments,said evaporator compartment means having separating means arranged toprovide a second zone for air from the above freezing compartment and afirst zone connected with the second to mix the air from said below andabove freezing compartments, an evaporating means including a firstevaporator portion located in said first zone of said evaporatorcompartment in heat transfer with said mixed air from said below andabove freezing compartments and a second evaporator portion located insaid second zone in heat transfer with the air circulating from saidabove freezing compartment prior to its mixing with said below freezingcompartment air.

7. A refrigerator including insulating means enclosing a below freezingcompartment and an above freezing compartment and door means for accessto said compartments, means associated with said insulating means formmgevaporator compartment means separated from said below and abovefreezing compartments, said evaporator compartment means including afirst part containmg a first evaporator portion and a second partcontainmg a second evaporator portion, means for circulating airseparately from said above freezing compartment separately to said firstpart in heat transfer with said first evaporator portion and thencirculating this precooled air together with air from the below freezingcompartment through said second part in heat transfer with said secondevaporator portion and returning the combined air to said compartments,said circulating means includmg means for proportioning the circulationof the air to maintain said above and below freezing compartmentsrespectively at above and below freezing temperatures.

8. A refrigerator including insulating means enclosing a below freezingcompartment and an above freezing compartment and door means for accessto said compartments, means associated with said insulating meansforming evaporator compartment means separated from said below and abovefreezing compartments, said evap orator compartment means including afirst part containing a first evaporator portion and a second partcontaining a second evaporator portion, means for circulating airseparately from said above freezing compartment separately to said firstpart in heat transfer with said first evaporator portion and thencirculating this precooled air together with air from the below freezingcompartment through said second part in heat transfer with said secondevaporator portion and returning the combined air to said compartments,said circulating means including means for proportioning the circulationof the air to maintain said above and below freezing compartmentsrespectively at above and below freezing temperatures, and means forsimultaneously defrosting said first and second evaporator portions.

9. A refrigerator including insulating means enclosing a below freezingcompartment and an above freezing compartment, means associated withsaid insulating means forming an extensive evaporator compartment, anevaporator extending within said evaporator compartment, said evaporatorcompartment having an outlet adjacent one edge of the evaporator, fanmeans having an inlet connected to said outlet and having two outletswith one of the outlets discharging into the below freezing compartmentand the second outlet extending to the above freezing compartment, saidmeans forming the evaporator compartment being provided with firstpassage means located to conduct air from said above freezingcompartment first into contact with one portion of the evaporator andprovided with a second passage means located in another portion toconduct air from said below freezing compartment into contact withanother portion of said evaporator and connecting with the first passagemeans.

10. A refrigerator including insulating means enclosing a below freezingcompartment and an above freezing compartment, means associated withsaid insulating means forming an extensive thin evaporator compartment,an evaporator extending within said evaporator compartment, saidevaporator compartment having an outlet adjacent one edge of theevaporator, fan means having an inlet connected to said outlet andhaving outlet means, discharge means extending from said outlet means tosaid below freezing compartment, and conduit means extending from saidoutlet means to said above freezing compartment, said means forming theevaporator compartment being provided with first passage means locatedbeyond the edge opposite said one edge of said evaporator providingcommunication between said below freezing compartment and saidevaporator compartment for delivering said below freezing compartmentair to said edge opposite of said evaporator, said means forming theevaporator compartment being also provided with separate second passagemeans located adjacent to and in heat transfer with the evaporatorbetween said one and said opposite edges and extending therefrom to saidedge opposite, said insulating means being provided with third passagemeans extending from said above freezing com partment to said secondpassage means providing in combination with the second passage means forthe flow of above freezing compartment air from said above freezingcompartment through said second passage means into heat tnansfer withthe evaporator between said one and said opposite edges prior to mixingwith said below freezing compartment air in said first passage means.

11. A refrigerator including insulating means enclosing a below freezingcompartment and an above freezing compartment below said below freezingcompartment, means associated with said insulating means forming anevaporator compartment between said below and above freezingcompartments, an evaporator extending within said evaporatorcompartment, said evaporator compartment having an outlet, fan meanshaving an inlet connected to said outlet and having outlet meansdischarging into the below freezing compartment and the above freezingcompartment, said means forming the evaporator compartment beingprovided with a portion of said insulating means and a thin wallseparating the evaporator and the evaporator compartment from said abovefreezing compartment with passage means extending between said portionand said thin wall and connecting with and providing communicationbetween said above freezing compartment and said evaporator compartmentfor conducting air from said above freezing compartment to saidevaporator compartment.

12. A refrigerator including insulating means enclosing a below freezingcompartment and an above freezing compartment and door means for accessto said on partments, means associated with said insulating meansforming an evaporator compartment, an evaporator extending within saidevaporator compartment, means dividing said evaporator compartment intoa first common passage having an inlet for mixed air from the below andabove freezing compartments extending into contact with and embracing afirst section constituting the greater portion of the evaporator andalso having an outlet and a second passage solely for above freezingcompartment air extending into contact with a second section of theevaporator and embracing one edge of the evaporator and connecting atone end with the above freezing compartment and connecting at theopposite end with said inlet of said first passage, said inlet of saidfirst passage also communicating with the below freezing compartment forreceiving therefrom, and fan means having its inlet connected to saidoutlet of said first passage and having outlet means connected to saidabove and below freezing compartments.

13. A refnigerator including insulating means enclosing a below freezingcompartment and an above freezing compartment and door means for accessto said compartments, means associated with said insulating meansforming an extensive generally rectangular evaporator compartment, agenerally rectangular evaporator extending within said evaporatorcompartment, means dividing said evaporator compartment into a centralcommon passage embracing the central portion of the evaporator andhaving an inlet and an outlet adjacent opposite edges of the evaporatorand side passages embracing the other edges of said evaporator and eachconnected at one end to the inlet of said central portion and extendingat the other end to one of two corners of said evaporator compartment,said insulating means including passages extending from said abovefreezing compartment to said two corners of said evaporator compartment,and means for drawing air from said outlet of said central passage anddischarging the air into said below and above freezing compartments.

14. A refrigerator including insulating means enclosing an upper belowfreezing compartment and a lower above freezing compartment, a wallseparating said compart ments including a lower layer of insulation anda laterally extending evaporator compartment above the insulation and athin laterally extending divider separating the evaporator compartmentand the below freezing compartment, a laterally extending evaporatorwithin said evaporator compartment, said divider being provided with aninlet opening and an outlet opening on opposite sides of said evaporatorand communicating with said evaporator compartment, said layer ofinsulation being provided with passage means extending from said abovefreezing compartment to said evaporator compartment immediately adjacentto an intermediate portion of said evaporator, fan means having an inletconnected to said outlet and having outlet means, discharge meansextending from said 1 1 outlet means to said below freezing compartment,and conduit means extending from said outlet means to said abovefreezing compartment.

15. A refrigerator including insulating means enclosing an upper belowfreezing compartment and a lower above freezing compartment, a wallseparating said compartments including a lower layer of insulation and alaterally extending evaporator compartment above the insulation and athin laterally extending divider separating the evaporator compartmentand the below freezing compartment, a. laterally extending evaporatorwithin said evaporator compartment, said evaporator compartment beingprovided with an inlet adjacent the front of the below freezingcompartment and an outlet adjacent the rear of the below freezingcompartment, said layer of insulation being provided with passage meansextending from said above freezing compartment to said evaporatorcompartment immediately adjacent to an intermediate portion of saidevaporator, fan means having an inlet connected to said outlet andhaving two outlets with one of the outlets discharging into the belowfreezing compartment and the second outlet discharging into the abovefreezing compartment.

16. A refrigerator including insulating means enclosing at belowfreezing compartment and an above freezing compartment, means associatedwith said insulating means forming an extensive thin evaporatorcompartment, an evaporator extending within said evaporator compartment,said evaporator compartment having an outlet adjacent one edge of theevaporator, fan means havingan inlet connected to said outlet and havingtwo outlets with one of the outlets discharging into the below freezingcorm partment and the second outlet extending tothe above freezingcompartment, said means forming the evaporator compartment beingprovided with first passage means at the front extending from the frontof the below freezing compartment to the front of the evaporatorcompartment in front of the evaporator, said means forming theevaporator compartment being provided with bottom passage meansextending from the top of the above freezing compartment to the bottomof said evaporator compartment rearwardly of the front of theevaporator, said means forming the evaporator compartment also includinga third passage means extending from said first passage means rearwardlyin contact with said evaporator to said outlet.

17. A refrigerator including insulating means enclosing an upper belowfreezing compartment and a lower above freezing compartment, a wallseparating said compartments including a lower layer of insulation and alaterally extending evaporator compartment above the insulation and athin laterally extending divider separating the evaporator compartmentand the below freezing compartment, 8. laterally extending evaporatorwithin said evaporator compartment, said divider being provided with anopening at the front in front of the evaporator providing for the flowof air from the below freezing compartment to the front of theevaporator compartment, said layer of insulation being provided withpassage means rearwardly of the front of the evaporator extending fromthe above freezing compartment to a portion of said evaporatorcompartment rearwardly of the front of the evaporator so as to contactfirst a different portion of the evaporator than is contacted first bythe air from the below freezing compartment, fan means having an inletconnected to the rear of said evaporator compartment behind saidevaporator and having two outlets with one of the outlets discharginginto the below freezing compartment and the second outlet discharginginto the above freezing compartment.

18. A refrigerator including insulating means enclosing a below freezingcompartment and an above freezing compartment, means associated withsaid insulating means forming an extensive thin evaporator compartment,an evaporator extending within said evaporator compartment, saidevaporator compartment having an outlet adjacent one edge of theevaporator, fan means having an inlet connected to said outlet andhaving two outlets with one of the outlets discharging into the belowfreezing compartment and the second outlet extending to the abovefreezing compartment, means dividing said evaporator compartment into acommon passage for both below and above freezing compartment airextending into heat transfer with a major portion of said evaporator tothe inlet of the fan means and a second separate passage solely forabove freezing compartment air extending into heat trans fer withanother portion of said evaporator to said common passage for coolingand drying the above freezing compartment air prior to its joining withsaid below freezing compartment air in said common passage, said meansforming said evaporator compartment being provided with passage meansextending from said below freezing compartment to said common passageprior to the heat transfer with said evaporator.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,180,974 Atchison Nov. 21, 1939 2,730,867 Salisbury Jan. 17, 19562,907,180 Mann Oct. 6, I959

